DPDO News
“Dara for Unity and Hope” held in Washington, DC
Monday, October 12th, 2009October 8, 2009 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - More than 25 Darfur activists gathered at Busboys and Poets Thursday evening for Darfur Peace and Development Organization’s Dara for Unity and Hope, a gathering modeled after the traditional Darfuri forum for discussion of community issues.
Dara attendees taking notes during discussion on advocacy/humanitarian strategies
Representatives from the Save Darfur Coalition, Africa Action, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Enough Project, Amnesty International USA, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Refugees International, International Rescue Committee, Darfur Alert Coalition, Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom, HELO Magazine, STAND, the Senate Finance Committee, and United States of Hope attended to discuss ways to unify the splintered movement and to create more cohesive action to benefit Darfur.
DPDO President Suliman A. Giddo recounted his recent pivotal trip to Darfur — his first return to his homeland in 19 years. He said the Darfuris are tired of seeing different envoys come listen to their cries, then leave and do nothing in response. NGO staff and government officials repeatedly ask women to tell their emotional and re-traumatizing stories of rape, forced displacement and deaths of loved ones –stories they have been telling for many years now – and still they receive no help.
Many of the Dara attendees agreed that the movement needs to be re-energized as it was earlier in the crisis, and that in order for real change to occur, more advocacy funds must be directed to help the civilians on the ground. Ryan Nalty from the nonprofit United States of Hope said that government initiatives and advocacy are failing because no one is looking to the Darfuris for a solution to the conflict.
One Dara participant said that even the Obama Administration is unsure of what to do about Darfur, but added that the advocacy movement needs a clear voice because we now have a President “with the heart to care.” Giddo told the group how he saw a Darfuri boy wearing an Obama t-shirt during his recent visit to DPDO’s office in El Fasher. When Giddo asked the boy to tell him who the man is, he replied, “he is our President.” Giddo said that once American voters elected Obama, this boy and all of his countrymen had faith that the American president would protect them from the Sudanese government.
Africa Action Director for Campaigns Briggs Bomba pointed out that because many governmental agencies are declaring that the war in Darfur has ended, some in the international community are moving on to other issues. People now are talking about “civilian deaths” where before, they would refer to the situation as “genocide.” He stressed the importance of telling members of the international community the challenges that remain on the ground, such as the hijacking of humanitarian deliveries and the continued Janjaweed mobilization around the camps and elsewhere.
The activists present for the DPDO-sponsored evening collectively decided to reconvene in January 2010 for another Dara for Unity and Hope. Although this Dara represents only a small step toward unity in the movement, the enthusiastic and passionate participants understand the importance of speaking with a clear, unified, powerful voice.
For more information about the Dara, DPDO’s programs, or to schedule an interview:
202-393-8150 or e-mail chiara@darfurpeace.org.
Loading... 
